Surprisingly, the study did not go beyond those in their 50s and beyond, which appears to back up separate research which found that sexuality among older people is largely ignored.

Researchers from the University of Manchester analysed written comment from more than a thousand adults aged 50 to 90 to highlighted the obstacles some older couples face in maintaining and fulfilling their sexual lives.

Many were reporting signs of anxiety as doctors refused to address their drop in sexual desire or physical difficulties, they found.

Men were discovered to be more likely to discuss the impact of health conditions on their sexual activities.

Heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are all causes of impotence among men. But women had a higher chance of discussing health-related sexual difficulties in the context of a relationship.